Calvin and Hobbes: Sunday Pages 1985-1995
September 10, 2001 - January 15, 2002
Part of the 2001 Festival of Cartoon Art
The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library More Info

Our Condolences

University Libraries extends its condolences to Karen and Jose Diaz and family with the passing of Karen's father, Frank Hamilton Snure, who died Thursday, January 3rd in New Orleans.

Health Sciences Library Workshops

The Health Sciences Library is offering the following workshops this Winter:

• Searching the Health Sciences Databases (Basic)
• Searching the Health Sciences Databases (Advanced)
• Evidence Based Medicine Databases
• Beyond the PDR: Finding Drug Information Online

Contact:
Carol Powell (powell.225@osu.edu)
Education Coordinator
John A. Prior Health Sciences Library
376 West 10th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210-1240
614-292-4871
614-292-5717 fax

• OSU Course Catalog & Master Schedule
• Library Staff Advisory Council's Web Page
• Library Staff Information Page
• OhioLINK Reference Databases - Access Rights
• Electronic Journal Center (OhioLINK) - Publisher List

A Thank You

Luminous Lucubrations

Last week's entry, "prevaricate," means "to deviate from the truth."
This week's entry is "propinquity."

Online resources for this question are available:

• WWWebster Dictionary - brief definitions
• The Oxford English Dictionary - lengthy, historical entries

Laughs

• Dilbert's Daily Mental Workout
• Cartoon of the Day

MLRRS Meeting Notes

Notes from MLRRS all meeting, Tuesday, 1/8/02, from 10-11:15am in room 122.
Recorded by Bracken as fast has he could write.

1. Jennifer Kuehn led a discussion of dealing with long missing Main Library materials: Jennifer admitted that her agenda/campaign was based on her work in ILL and her experience that ILL routinely receives requests for books (50-100 per month) that are long missing on OSCAR but for which OCLC still shows OSU’s holding symbol. Jennifer noted that she routinely asks individual collection managers to consider withdrawing these long missing books and request the removal of the OCLC holding symbol, but also wonders if there should be an OSUL “program” to more systematically address this. Jennifer shared with us a Nancy Helmick-produced boolean (of 97 pages) of Main stacks books (about 4,000) “missing and not updated since 1998.” Jennifer claimed that she had wanted to use this boolean as evidence for the wholesale withdrawing of all 4,000 books, but she has since changed her mind in that, upon re-searching books on the first 15 pages (750 books), she was able to find 75 in the stacks in the right place. Jennifer now argues that perhaps collection managers need to re-search (for some of us, probably re-re-re-search) the remaining books before withdrawing is requisite. Some in the audience agreed that the list should be handed over to collection managers. Others seconded the notion of a need for a process or program to deal with long missing and ultimately unfound items. And a few, with frenzied enthusiasm, wanted to distribute the list in smaller takes (of 4 pages each) to collection managers and start re-searching the missing books right away. Jennifer gave the list to Bracken who will refer the subject for discussion and recommendation for action at the next MLRR Heads meeting (1/15/02). MLRRS will likely figure out some way to divide the list. Thanks, Jennifer!
   
   
2. David Lincove continued discussion of strategies to eliminate "Books Lacking Shelf Space" (BLSS) areas: David provided a deck-by-deck assessment of BLSS areas in Main. David noted that the BLSS shelves on 2 (by the restrooms and elevator) have been emptied and dismantled. David characterized BLSS on 3 (mostly classes B and P) as worst in Main Library; that BLSS on 3A (G, H), 4 (H, U), and 7 (K, L) were more modest; and that on 6 (Q) and 10 and 11, BLSS were able to be eliminated by shifting that could be accomplished by stack shelvers and without collection manager involvement. David suggested that there was a need for (a) collection managers to take responsibility for their classes of materials (either by area, or floor, but how to keep up would be a challenge); and (b) stacks shelvers to shift materials to integrate stuff during reshelving as much as possible. This might involve changing reshelving practices.
   
   Maureen Donovan described the method that is being used to try to eliminate BLSS areas (including mobile ones) and create a study space on EAS deck 9. Maureen and Guo-qing Li met with Don McCoy and Nick Felt (of CMT) to plan a shift of EAS stuff (A classes) now on deck 11 and some stuff now on 9 (B-DS perhaps) to space on deck 10 opened by collection manager review and CMT transfer to STX. Maureen and Guo-qing have asked Nancy Helmick to provide several booleans for CJK pre-1970 EAS stuff for them to review by 1 Feb. 02, make decisions to retain any items in Main, and include comments related to analytics. Once we get some numbers on the extent of the items needing analytics, Nick will consult with Carol and Cataloging and investigate how the analytics might be accomplished. The plan is to hand the reviewed booleans over to Nick and the CMT to process items for STX. In the meantime, Don is making great progress on shifting deck 10 to open space for EAS stuff from 11 and 9. The plan is to open the whole west side of 10 and start with the As (from 11) in the south end and then continue with the Bs, and more (from 9)--maybe up to DS. Don is estimating. The plan is also to eliminate all rolling and stationary BLSS areas while leaving growth space on 9 and 10. Don says the shifting of 10, 11, and 9 can be completed by end of Spring 02. Then Bracken will get a quote to remove 4 ranges on 9 and develop a study area, to be completed maybe by Fall 02.
   
   Back to working on BLSS in the non-EAS parts of Main Library. Bracken advised collection managers who work in the stacks shifting materials to eliminate BLSS that they should advise Don McCoy about what they’re doing. A suggestion was made that a position for a dedicated BLSS person should be developed. Bracken concluded discussion by indicating that (a) and (b) related to eliminating BLSS in non-EAS parts of Main will be discussed at the next MLRRS Heads 1/15/02 meeting and a recommendation will be forthcoming.
   
   
3. Steve Rogers, who has assumed the job of "building beautification officer" (initially held by Ted Riedinger), talked about aesthetics in the stacks. Steve said that he was daily journeying to deck 11 to check phones (still there? in working order?), chairs (matching? correct number?), pcs (still there? working?), plants on 7 (watering), etc. Thanks, Steve, for agreeing to take on this additional work.
   
   
4. Bracken went around the room asking pointed questions about others projects in progress in Main Library:
   • Linda Krikos said the BSL/WMN move was essentially complete except for a few details (extra chairs in 240, a stray file cabinet in 220, etc.);
   • Fred Roecker is working on fixing the “new” signs that the BSL/WMN move broke; paper signs are up in the meantime;
   • Bracken says that all of the wall shelves (except built-in wood ones) in 220 and 210 will be removed by Ryan’s guys; Bracken has asked for the walls in 220 and 210 to be patched and painted; 12 flat screen monitors and new pcs have been installed in 220’s north end and 12 more will be installed, with wiring and furniture for 34 total;
   • Bracken says Don McCoy’s folks have moved the Honors Theses from the 7th floor to 210. Oscar reflects the location change. Bracken checked a few. They read “MAIN Hon Theses Rm 210.” Someone noted that the Honors Program’s web page shows the theses in 240. Bracken will contact them to correct.
   • Bracken said that sections of wall shelves (removed from 220) will be installed by Ryan’s guys on the ISD-side of the wall of the new IT office in 130 to hold the NUCs, now on low shelves (hope they all fit);
   • Bracken and Mart Alt said that Marti will move from room 228 to 226 when 226 is painted (Ryan has requested this); when Marti is in 226, then IT can have 228 (which, as far as we can tell, is not going to be painted, unless IT asks);
   • Ted Riedinger (as acting head/coordinator), Donna Distel, and Miroljub Ruzic are the folks minding WEL, EES, and LAT, while acting related collection management chores are being handled as follows: Ted (Slavic), Graham Walden (Germanic Lang and Lit), Nancy Courtney (Classics and Italian), and Miriam Conteh-Morgan (French and Linguistics). Bracken has asked Betty Sawyers to blot out the name of Beau Case and please correct the several OSUL web pages accordingly;
   • Mel Ankeny (new “collection manager” for MIC), Jan Wagner, and Mary Ries are getting along well in MIC and making cosmetic changes. Mel even bought a new VCR. Mel welcomes suggestions.

Jim Bracken (Bracken.1@osu.edu)

In order to comply with University procedures, employees who are applying for listed vacancies must complete a Promotion/Transfer Request (form 8931, Rev 9/97) during the week of the first listing of the vacancy in the University Personnel Posting (green sheet). To ensure awareness of all vacancies which have been posted, applicants should consult the weekly green sheet rather than relying on the listing in NEWS NOTES Online and are encouraged to attach a resume and/or other supporting documents to the form. Prospective faculty and staff applicants who are absent during the five-day posting period and wish to apply should see Toni Morrison-Smith.

Library personnel may also review University employment opportunities at http://www.ohr.ohio-state.edu/index.htm